Pilot held by Islamic State puts Jordan's king in a tough spot

AMMAN, Feb 1 (Reuters) - The fate of a Jordanian pilot held
by Islamic State has raised public pressure on King Abdullah
over his country's role in the U.S-led military campaign against
the hardline group in Syria, fuelling the risk of broader
discontent in the U.S. ally.

After his capture in December, militants released pictures
of the young pilot Muath al-Kasaesbeh being led out of the water
by fighters. His F-16 jet had smashed onto the banks of the
Euphrates River in Islamic State's stronghold in northern Syria.

The images of the young, newly-wed pilot shocked Jordanians
and brought home the stakes of the U.S.-ally's involvement the
war. King Abdullah has defended the campaign, saying that
moderate Muslims need to combat a group whose ideology and
brutality have insulted the spirit of Islam.

But in Kasaesbeh's hometown of Karak dozens of young people
protested, chanting anti-coalition slogans and calling on the
King to pull out of the campaign.

"We will not be a sacrificial cow for America!" angry youths
chanted last month in a city whose tribes have long been a
bulwark of support for the Hashemite monarchy.

Although few believe the crisis will compel Jordan to
withdraw completely from the campaign, it may take a more
low-key role like in the past, analysts and diplomats say.

King Abdullah's father, King Hussein, did not take part in a
U.S.-led military campaign against former Iraqi dictator Saddam
Hussein after his invasion of Kuwait in 1990, going along with
public opinion which was against military involvement.

By contrast, his son has taken a bolder role in this
campaign by sending its jets to Syria - the first time Jordan
took part on bombing missions abroad rather than just providing
intelligence and logistical support.

King Abdullah's stance stems from his concern about the
heightened threat of jihadis to his kingdom. Al Qaeda launched a
series of deadly attacks in Jordan including a bombing on a
hotel in Amman in 2005, killing 60 people.

Islamic State has called for the release of Sajida
al-Rishawi, one of the hotel attackers who was convicted after
her explosive belt failed to detonate. It has said it will spare
Kasaesbeh's life if she is let go but has not said it will
release the pilot.

"IT'S OUR WAR"

Seeking to rally his people, King Abdullah has said concern
about the pilot's plight united all Jordanians and his capture
proved the war must be won. But as he comforted Kasaesbeh's
parents and wife in the royal palace, demonstrations took place.

"There is not a hour in the day that me and the armed forces
are not working on this, our hero the pilot. Unfortunately the
war today is one within the Islamic world and it's our war," the
King told a group of tribal elders in a visit ten days ago.

The case has polarised Jordanians. Nationalists say it is
not time for recriminations and have called for rallying behind
the throne while others say they will lay the blame on the
country's political rulers if the pilot is killed.

"People will blame the Jordanian regime and they will say
why did you send him to this war. No one will blame Islamic
State if it executes him, it will only increase support for
them," said Ali Dalaen, a former deputy from the pilot's
hometown.

He led a demonstration on Friday calling for an end to
military involvement and accusing the government of not
negotiating seriously with Islamic State.

Some Jordanians have even raised fears that Jordan would
send land troops to battle Islamic State, which is also known by
the Arabic acronym Daesh.

"We insist this is not our war and if Daesh unfortunately
sacrifices our son, we hope the wisdom of the government and the
King would be furthest away from participating in a land
campaign," said Hind al-Fayez, a deputy from the powerful Bani
Sakhr tribe. Her comments provoked a strong backlash.

Islamic State has released three emotive videos in response
to repeated appeals by the family. The group says their son's
bombing missions had been responsible for the deaths of women
and children.

Observers say Islamic State is trying to deepen domestic
rifts in a country whose security forces are growing
increasingly alarmed by the appeal of jihadist ideology,
especially in impoverished cities across the kingdom.

Dozens of youths even from the pilot's hometown have
travelled over the border to fight alongside hardline groups in
Syria and as far away as Afghanistan.

"It's an impossible situation for (Jordan). They don't have
a decent hand," a Western diplomat in Amman said.

"It's clear that Daesh (Islamic State) is looking to
manipulate the political space with Jordan, and unfortunately
they are very adept at that."
(Editing by Sylvia Westall and Anna Willard)